Author's Note: *Looks at beaten up bomb shelter* ... *Takes deep breaths* Seriously?! Seriously, you guys?! Oh, you're gonna get it... Ahem, sorry! That was my vindictive side talking, or maybe she's still taking. Anyway, I know that there are a lot of Amourshippers who are all lined up and ready to lynch me, but may I remind you that I have a secret weapon that can block all of your attacks! It's called, numbness. I'm sadistic writer who likes to torture characters with suspense, what did you suspect? Don't worry, I'm gonna let you guys breath a little in this chapter before things really start to get crazy in the next.

Crestilia: You had just unleashed my vindictive side...

StreetRacer-Sam: I can't really say anything on that because I might reveal something from the plot. And thank you. I really do want to improve my writing. I might not need my bomb shelter from you, but who's to say the other Amourshippers are gonna sleep easy?

michmech: Thanks, you won't be getting the wrath of the vindictive side. I really did try to make this realistic. Ash is still technically human, so he will have his moments where he breaks down and snaps. Oh yeah, the Donner Party. I know all about that thanks to Wendigoes.

Roger0326: I can't say for certain how long it's gonna be. But I can say that there will probably be 20 chapters or more.

Ash Ketchum: And I'm sure the real Ash Ketchum wouldn't say the f-word either. Besides, it's not cannon. Everything that happens isn't tied with the Anime.

Trinity Sparks: Uh, thanks?

Uptownfunk: ... I literally have no comment on that.

Serena felt numb. Guilt has a funny way of making you react to certain things that are supposed to be traumatizing. She's been bucked off of Rhyhorn ever since she was a little girl, she always remembered crying over all the injured she would get. To a little girl, that would have been traumatizing. Remembering what she said to Ash, she didn't fee like the little girl. That little girl just cries through her problems and faces them all over again the next day.

Serena didn't cry. She didn't move at all as she sat down on the living room's couch. Her blue eyes that once had their own unique shine has now become dull and blank as they stare at her lap. If anything, she would rather prefer crying like a little girl again than act like a motionless puppet.

Her words towards Ash kept replaying in her mind over and over like someone kept pressing the reverse button to torture her for her past actions. Even now, though, Serena is still in denial from what she said. She knew what Ash's nonexistent relationship with his father is like, even with the small talk from Ash's part, she knew that it isn't something worth mentioning to him.

Sweet Arceus, what in the world compelled her into saying something like that? Even if Ash never said it before, they all knew that he blames himself for his father's abandonment. They all knew. She knew! And yet, she had reminded Ash of that nonessential guilt by saying he does have a problem with making people leave him.

Why didn't she hold back?

The pitter-patter of footsteps coming from the stairs caught her attention. For a moment, she instantly hoped it was Ash coming down to talk to her. She did her best to hide her disappointment when it was actually Clemont, Bonnie, and the Pokémon. There was no Ash, Greninja, or Pikachu in sight. Her thoughts made her think that Greninja and Pikachu are staying upstairs to comfort Ash the best way they can.

"How he is?" Those were the words that immediately popped into her mind. However, seeing the looks on their faces made her regretting asking that question.

"Well, he threw a vase at us," Bonnie comments dryly as she hops onto the couch and crosses her arms over her chest. "I guess that mostly explains it."

Serena drops her gaze back down to her lap, the same shame she felt before in the hallway after Ash had run off began creeping up again. She could already feel a lecture about to come out of Clemont, and she's ready for it. She's willing to hear all the possible cruel words that she obviously deserves. Or better yet, have a Rhyhorn slam into her a thousand times. That should be her real punishment.

What she didn't know, Clemont instantly changed his mind about his well, thought-out lecture he had planned for the honey-blonde the moment he saw her face. He was quick to realize that Serena truly feels remorse for her previous dialogue. Why else would she look like she's beating herself up over this? Looking back on his lecture, it did sound kind of harsh if he were to say them now when Serena is showing regret. So, instead, he asked one question; "Why?"

Serena couldn't hold back a flinch. It wasn't the lecture she was expecting, but it still flared up her guilt. She knew what Clemont meant by that one word yet it still fills her with the same dread. She didn't even know how to respond to that when she didn't know the answer herself.

"Why did you say it, Serena?" Clemont continues when she didn't say anything. "I get that you were angry at him, but why that?" Nothing in response. "Serena, you remember how Ash reacted when we asked him about his Dad." She did remember, but she still didn't say anything. "You know as well as I do that even though it clearly wasn't his fault, Ash blames himself for his father leaving him.

"So, why did you say that he is the reason his father left?"

At that point, Serena couldn't hold it back anymore. The guilt was eating her alive and she let it. The dam behind her eyes has finally collapsed and the waterworks are already flooding down her cheeks. Her throat constricts with every choked sob escaping, bringing more pain to her physical condition to match the pain she's filling emotionally. She slumps her head down into her trembling hands where she let all of her sobs out.

Seeing their friend like this made the siblings and the Pokémon soften their gaze. Maybe they were being a little unfair to her. It's clear that Serena regrets all the things she had said. It was just seeing their best friend, showing his complete vulnerable side to them made all of their hearts swell. They really wanted to be mad at Serena because it seemed easier to dwell with when Ash is like this. Now their emotions are once again conflicted when they realized they couldn't stay mad at Serena if she's showing remorse.

Upon seeing their trainer crying, Braxien, Pancham, and Sylveon immediately ran over to her. The two-legged Pokémon are softly patting her shoulders while Sylveon uses her feelers to try and dry off the nonstop flowing tears. While they understand what Serena said to her friend was completely horrid, they couldn't stay mad at her for long. After all, she is their best friend.

Finally coming to terms with himself, Clemont walks over to the couch until he was in front of Serena and kneels down to her level. His movements caught her attention and Serena looks up at him with her bloodshot, tear-filled eyes.

"Look, Serena, if you really feel bad about all of this, I think the best thing you can do right now is wait for Ash to come down so you can apologize to him then," Clemont explains. "Don't go up and find him now, though, he's still trying to recover..."

Clemont didn't have the heart to tell Serena how Ash reacted at the mention of her name. Just telling her will only bring more grief amongst them and he didn't want that. The best thing he can do for all of them right now is keeping the peace and hope that Ash is gonna be okay.

Serena looked like she wanted to object but she instantly closed her mouth the moment Clemont's words hit. He's right, she shouldn't go confronting Ash right now. Looking back at his face from the hallway, she knew she is the last person that Ash would want to see right now. If he didn't explode at her in the hallway after she said all those awful things, she didn't even want to imagine how he would react to her during his process of re-gathering his thoughts. So she just nods her in response. "Okay..."

Clemont nods in acknowledgment before taking a seat right next to his sister. Now all they have to do is wait for Greninja and Pikachu to come down, hopefully, Ash with them.

During all that time, Clemont and Bonnie have completely forgotten about telling Serena the not-so-interesting discovery they'd made about the Lewis household.

Greninja and Pikachu both stood awkwardly at the front of the door where they can hear the painful sobs coming from their trainer. They've been standing for a while since Clemont asked them to stay and look after Ash. While they're glad that they don't hear any thuds or him screaming, so it probably means that he isn't harming his room, and probably himself, anymore, it did pain them to listen at his angst.

They're still in denial that someone like Serena could say something like that to Ash. They've known Serena since they beginning of their Kalos Journey and right there they could tell that the human girl has very strong feelings for their human. If anything, they thought those two deserved on another. Even despite Ash's obviousness to romance, they could also tell that Ash tends to react differently around her. They really thought those two could have a future together.

Then Serena went ahead and dropped that bomb.

Now they have to comfort their trainer when he has something that technically doesn't count as a heartbreak.

When it seemed like his sobbing died down, Pikachu took a step forward and was about to knock on the door.

"I know you're there, Pikachu... Greninja..."

Pikachu flinches the moment he heard his trainer's muffled voice coming from behind the door. He half-expected Ash to yell at him like he did to Bonnie and Clemont, but was surprised when he, instead, heard Ash's voice to barely come above a whisper. They could hear the breaking point of his voice due to all the yelling and sobbing he's been doing lately. It didn't take a blind person to know that Ash is beyond exhausted right now.

After regaining his senses, Pikachu knocks on the door. "Pika-pi?"

"I-I'm fine, Pikachu..." That sob in the middle of the sentence told them otherwise. "You and Greninja don't have to look after me, I'll be f-fine..."

Greninja decides to make his presence known. "Gre, Gre!"

"Leave me alone, Greninja!" Pikachu winces when Ash's voice increased in volume. It wasn't loud like how he used it for Clemont and Bonnie, but it still showed that Ash was still upset.

"Gre! Gre!" Greninja continues to persist. There are times where Pikachu wonder how Greninja knew what to say bluntly so that Ash can pay attention to him. Maybe it was because of that whole Bond Phenomenon thing.

"You don't have any idea on how I'm feeling!"

"Gre!"

"Don't you make me talk about her! I never want to see her again!"

Pikachu shot the Ninja Pokémon a dry look. He had to mention Serena when Ash wasn't ready to talk about her again. Greninja sweat-dropped nervously, realizing his mistake. To think that the Bond Phenomena would make him able to understand the exact level of Ash's emotional pain, yet he still couldn't find the right words to comfort him.

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu went up to the door pound on it lightly with his little fists.

"Go away, Pikachu..." Ash's voice became lower and shook with every syllable, making them realize Ash is very close to another fit. "I-I really want to be alone right now..."

"Pika-pi!"

"L-Leave me alone!"

With that, their trainer broke into another sobbing fit. Even when they're being muffled from the door, the two Pokémon could hear each sob growing more agonizing than the last. It was like somebody has just stabbed a piece of glass through his heart and now he's crying and screaming at the same time through the pain.

Unable to hear this anymore, Pikachu gives Greninja a look full of tears ready to be released. Greninja sighs before he stalks off, Pikachu following behind him. Ash is right, even in an unstable condition. Maybe the best thing for him right now is to be alone. He obviously needs some time to figure things out in his head. Just hovering over him will only make his mental state even worse since he won't be able to think and would only focus on the pain that's coursing through him.

They'll wait with others downstairs until Ash is ready to come out.

What they didn't know is that leaving their trainer alone will be the biggest mistake they will regret in their lives. Because they didn't stick around long enough to notice a black mist seeping its way in through the bottom rail.